Venezuela announces that it will not accept European observation in the 2024 presidential election

Venezuela declares that it will not accept European observation in

Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced on Thursday that Nicolás Maduro’s government will not allow the presence of a European Union observation mission in the country for the 2024 presidential elections. In a fiery address throughout the legislature, he said: Rodríguez, one of the normally moderate spokesmen of the revolutionary establishment, declared: “We have no time to think about the request that is being made of us. I’ll tell you directly, Josep Borrell [jefe de la diplomacia de la UE]As long as we are the representatives of the Venezuelan state, you will not come. No mission will come here from Europe. They breached the agreement we signed with them.”

Rodríguez, who has been trying to maintain political relations with European diplomacy in recent years, was reacting to the European Parliament’s statement on the situation in Venezuela. This Wednesday, the European Parliament, with a very broad vote, condemned the political disqualification of María Corina Machado, the opposition leader who leads all the opinion polls for the opposition primaries, again showing her “concern” about the evolution of the Venezuelan regime and calling for the release of the 280 political prisoners.

Over the months, the rather conciliatory attitude and willingness to engage in dialogue between Maduro and Rodríguez in haggling over demands with their opponents has hardened. The Chavista delegation, which had begun negotiations with the opposition, doubled down on its demands and refused to return to a dialogue table originally explored in Mexico. The Venezuelan President has made any rapprochement or transfer conditional on the release of pro-government businessman Alex Saab, who is jailed in the United States for money laundering. It also calls for the sanctions imposed by the USA, Canada and the European Union to be completely dismantled.

Fears have been growing in opposition ranks in recent days that the Supreme Court of the country, entirely colonized by Chavismo, could issue a ruling admitting the organization of the primary elections but forcing the opposition to agree to the new directive of the National Electoral Council, which has not yet been appointed. This decision would embarrass the opposition, which had already decided to organize the election itself after the previous CNE leadership resigned. A replacement dictated by the Chavismo would in all likelihood lead to fresh disagreements in the opposition leadership.

The CNE’s previous leadership, which was relatively balanced and the result of a political deal with the opposition in 2021, unilaterally resigned from their posts before the National Assembly a few weeks ago without making a public statement – and also allowing the opposition to resign force rectors who refused to resign shortly after the opposition electoral commission asked them for help organizing their primaries.

On Wednesday, at the Andrés Bello Catholic University – in the absence of Henrique Capriles, who declined at the last minute – the debate organized by the Unity Platform through its Electoral Commission took place between the 10 candidates for the primary elections and the citizenry, even among Venezuelans who represent the country left looking for opportunities. In the final welcome to the press, Machado refused to take his teammates’ hands to make the victory sign. He assured that he wants to lead a joint project and overcome the problems with other candidates.

Join EL PAÍS to follow all the news and read without restrictions.

subscribe to

Though top Chavismo leaders generally avoid naming them, it seems clear that the skyrocketing popularity of the most adamant and anti-Communist of Venezuelan opponents inspires some shame. A popularity that, according to qualified analysts such as Félix Seijas of the Delphos company, “has doubled in just over a month, doubling the number of closest followers, with a very limited voting intent.”

Machado’s growth has led a poll-weak government still grappling with economic woes to crack down on the law to take out its opponents. Machado has declared that his candidacy will last “to the end” and has assured that he will never adhere to any measure forged in the Chavismo institutions.

Follow all international information on Facebook and Twitteror in our weekly newsletter.